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Procrit dosing question
I got my Procrit Rx this evening and all it says on the box is use as directed.
I have 4 1-mL vials ( 4 week supply ).
How much do I take ? The entire mL ? ( I am 6' 02" - 255 lbs )
I have 4 1-mL vials ( 4 week supply ).
How much do I take ? The entire mL ? ( I am 6' 02" - 255 lbs )
You got me, but I feel a lot better. On my last test I was in the 9's, it took about a month to get the meds. I was feeling pretty ragged before I started the procrit.
hmmmm....so if mine is heading into the 9's, should I be asking at my doctor's office about getting Procrit? Or if I'm handling it, am I better off without the Procrit?
As Mrs O said, you might not want to do it at the same time because of side effects, but you can do them at the same time. The Procrit is supposed to counteract the Ribavirin which is the major culprit in destroying red blood cells. Since we take Ribavirin twice a day, it is almost impossible to avoid doing the Procrit around the same time as the Riba.
Now, if you develop Neutropenia (low neutrophil count) and have to take Neupogen, you would want to take it on a different day than the interferon.
Now, if you develop Neutropenia (low neutrophil count) and have to take Neupogen, you would want to take it on a different day than the interferon.
No, do procrit 24 hours before or after your interferon. I had side effects from the procrit and for me I found it worked best to do the procrit on Sunday night.
Sorry I can't help but I was curious what your blood work got to before your dr. gave you procrit. Thanks
Taking a closer look at these syringes. They're 3ml 23g1 ( .6mm x 25mm ). I tried to use it the first time and I just couldn't get that baby to go in. My syringes for the Interferon are 1ml (.4mm x 13mm ), which I can handle okay. Like you say, it's hard to get ALL of the serum into the syringe, but it's better than stabbing yourself with a punji stick.
No, my interferon comes with two syringes ( injectable powder ). I don't always use the two. I did not have a problem with my intron injection.
First, I appologize for my typing or spelling - not sure which. The way missmiss said to do it is the correct way - that is you punch thru the vial top with one needle, then you change it out so the needle that goes thru your skin has never been used before. I never mastered that art and ended up, after getting rid of bubbles, with less that 1mL to inject so I didn't do it that way.
This is how I did it. First, I had only 1mL syringes Thus the dose of Procrit came almost to the top - as you found out. It was a little hard at first, but I became quite good at filling that syringe without pulling the plunger out.
I used either allergy or diabetic syringes that the needle did not come off on but really had no problem "punching" thru the skin and rarely had injection site marks. I used either 27,28, or 29 ga needles - quite small.
So you were able to inject with the INF syringe? Do you use the vials instead of the redipen or prefilled vials or did you just reuse a prefilled vial? You were able to inject yesterday?
frijole
This is how I did it. First, I had only 1mL syringes Thus the dose of Procrit came almost to the top - as you found out. It was a little hard at first, but I became quite good at filling that syringe without pulling the plunger out.
I used either allergy or diabetic syringes that the needle did not come off on but really had no problem "punching" thru the skin and rarely had injection site marks. I used either 27,28, or 29 ga needles - quite small.
So you were able to inject with the INF syringe? Do you use the vials instead of the redipen or prefilled vials or did you just reuse a prefilled vial? You were able to inject yesterday?
frijole
Boy, I can sympathise with you. When I got my first rx of Pegzsys the pharmacist filled it with the vials and gave me 22 ga syringes with 1 1/2" needles. It really is hard to stary subcutaneous with them.. After that first shot I out 27 ga or even 29 ga 1/2" syringes. Much much easier. I hope you can change out.
I believe you are to take the entire vial once a week. I don't think the Procrit has a preservative in it so shouldn't be saved after opening.
I believe you are to take the entire vial once a week. I don't think the Procrit has a preservative in it so shouldn't be saved after opening.
Sounds like you got the 3cc syringe which mine came standard with a 25 gauge 5/8" needle. Keep in mind that 1cc = 1ml of serum.
When I was simply injecting a single vial at a time, I would use a 1cc syringe with a 27 gauge 5/8" needle. It's harder to float all the air bubbles as you have less room to work with when full 1 ml is drawn into the syringe. More than once I would accidentily pull the plunger right out the backside but fortunately was quick enough to get it back in before any serum was loss. I also had lots of practice working with injections like this from when I would self vaccinate my dogs and puppies back when I was showing and breeding them.
I used the 3cc syringe when I injecting more than one vial. I found that 2 ml in one injection was a bit too much, but I could handle a 1 1/2 ml.
When I used the 3cc syringe I would do like MissMiss indicate of switching needles from the 25 gauge to 27 gauge between drawing and injecting. My rational was two fold, 1) to use a smaller needle for injecting because it hurts less and is easier to use and 2) the needle tips gets dull each time it is used, particularily when puncturing the rubber stopper of a serum vial and changing it after drawing from multiple vials insures a sharp needle for injection.
When I was simply injecting a single vial at a time, I would use a 1cc syringe with a 27 gauge 5/8" needle. It's harder to float all the air bubbles as you have less room to work with when full 1 ml is drawn into the syringe. More than once I would accidentily pull the plunger right out the backside but fortunately was quick enough to get it back in before any serum was loss. I also had lots of practice working with injections like this from when I would self vaccinate my dogs and puppies back when I was showing and breeding them.
I used the 3cc syringe when I injecting more than one vial. I found that 2 ml in one injection was a bit too much, but I could handle a 1 1/2 ml.
When I used the 3cc syringe I would do like MissMiss indicate of switching needles from the 25 gauge to 27 gauge between drawing and injecting. My rational was two fold, 1) to use a smaller needle for injecting because it hurts less and is easier to use and 2) the needle tips gets dull each time it is used, particularily when puncturing the rubber stopper of a serum vial and changing it after drawing from multiple vials insures a sharp needle for injection.
Let it sit out for an hour before you inject to let the procrit get to room temp. Inject slowly into a fatty area and it won't sting nearly as much.
Good Luck.
Good Luck.
They are single use 40,000 unit viles, which my doc said 40,000 week so I guess I do the whole thing at once.
Good LORD they gave me these *huge* syringes for the injections. What am I a frickin' donkey or sumthin' ? They look like they're for intra-muscular. About a 3 inch needle that is just very ominous. I used one of my extra syringes I use for the interferon for the procrit instead. I can't poke that thing in me. It looks like something you'd buy from Ron Popeil to inject a turkey or ham with.
Good LORD they gave me these *huge* syringes for the injections. What am I a frickin' donkey or sumthin' ? They look like they're for intra-muscular. About a 3 inch needle that is just very ominous. I used one of my extra syringes I use for the interferon for the procrit instead. I can't poke that thing in me. It looks like something you'd buy from Ron Popeil to inject a turkey or ham with.
WALGREENS-has really small needles. More comfortable for a shot that already hurts. No prescription needed. Mine was 40,000 also. Good luck-clint
I used the larger needles to draw out the Procrit (after inserting 1ml of air) and then changed to the smaller ones for injecting. I forget the size I used for injectiong but you can unscrew the needle and change it quite easily.
Check with your pharmacist before you start.
miss
Check with your pharmacist before you start.
miss
What were you prescribed and what is the dosage per ml?
Procrit generally comes in 10,000, 20,000, and 40,000 units per 1 ml vial. The 20,000 comes in both the single and multi-use vials.
Mine varied as we adjusted both the Procrit and Riba in an attempt to get Riba back to full dosage. So there were times were I used both a 40K and 20K vial for 60K per week, a single 40K vial, a 10K and 20K vial, a 20K and half of another 20K for 30K, etc.
So, if you were prescribed 40,000 U/Sq per week, to only do one injection a week, and have 40,000 U per ml vials, then you will use only 1 vial.
Also, keep in mind that it helps to draw the syringe back to amount you will inject to fill it with air, insert it into the vial, and push the air into the vial before inverting it to draw the serum out. That way the air you inject into the vial helps to push the serum out as you draw it into the syringe.
Hope this helps some.
Procrit generally comes in 10,000, 20,000, and 40,000 units per 1 ml vial. The 20,000 comes in both the single and multi-use vials.
Mine varied as we adjusted both the Procrit and Riba in an attempt to get Riba back to full dosage. So there were times were I used both a 40K and 20K vial for 60K per week, a single 40K vial, a 10K and 20K vial, a 20K and half of another 20K for 30K, etc.
So, if you were prescribed 40,000 U/Sq per week, to only do one injection a week, and have 40,000 U per ml vials, then you will use only 1 vial.
Also, keep in mind that it helps to draw the syringe back to amount you will inject to fill it with air, insert it into the vial, and push the air into the vial before inverting it to draw the serum out. That way the air you inject into the vial helps to push the serum out as you draw it into the syringe.
Hope this helps some.
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